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Returning 35 results for 'design story'.
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Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
About This Book Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is a Dungeons & Dragons adventure optimized for four to six characters. The player characters are the heroes of the story. This book
, and the Underdark below, as a campaign setting in which you can base adventures of your own. All pertinent details about the setting are covered in this book, with room to add new locations and villains of your own design.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
Credits Lead Designer: Christopher Perkins
Story Design: Jenna Helland, Adam Lee, Christopher Perkins, Richard Whitters
Additional Design: Mike Mearls
Managing Editor: Jeremy Crawford
Editors: Kim Mohan, Michele Carter
Editorial Assistance: Matt Sernett, Chris Dupuis, Ben Petrisor, Sean K Reynolds, Stan!
Story Consultant: R.A. Salvatore
D&D Lead Designers: Mike Mearls, Jeremy
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
features; the two types of design go hand in hand in D&D, and the story parts are stronger in some classes than in others. Druids and paladins have an especially strong dose of story in their design
class’s story since the class first appeared in Eldritch Wizardry (1976) and the original Player’s Handbook (1978). The idea is that druids prefer to be protected by animal skins, wood, and other
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
Character Advancement If you want to use story-based level advancement, the characters receive experience points for achieving milestones rather than defeating monsters. When the characters leave the
Original
Published in 1983, Beyond the Crystal Cave is the first adventure in the series of adventures produced by TSR UK. The story draws inspiration from the star-crossed lovers in Shakespeare’s
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
Credits Designers: Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter
Additional Design: Adam Lee
Story Consultants: Pendleton Ward, James Lowder
Story Creators: Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
Turtle Bay. Chult is a land of adventure, and this chapter aims to make the characters’ wilderness journey a memorable one. By design, the adventure locations are not tailored to characters of a specific
DM to be flexible and keep the story moving forward as best you can. If an encounter is going badly for the adventurers, you can have the monsters suddenly withdraw, demand the party’s surrender, or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
About This Book Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden is a Dungeons & Dragons adventure optimized for four to six characters. The player characters are the heroes of the story; this book describes
setting in which you can base adventures of your own. All pertinent details about the setting are covered here, with room left to add new locations and villains of your own design. TENDAYS AND
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
different players and characters in your group to draw them into the story. An adventure that includes a balance of exploration, social interaction, and combat is likely to appeal to a wide breadth of
players. But an adventure you create for your home campaign doesn’t have to appeal to every possible player interest—only to the players at your table. You can design encounters that appeal to multiple
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
, traps, puzzles, and conflicts. When you design an adventure, you call the shots. You do things exactly the way you want to. Fundamentally, adventures are stories. An adventure shares many of the
interaction, and combat into a unified whole that meets the needs of your players and your campaign. But it’s more than that. The basic elements of good storytelling should guide you throughout this process, so your players experience the adventure as a story and not a disjointed series of encounters.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
Character Advancement If you want to use story-based level advancement, the characters receive experience points for achieving the following milestones rather than defeating monsters: Escape the Maze
reprinted Pharaoh in 1982 but also hired Tracy Hickman. TSR later published two more adventures in the Desert of Desolation trilogy.
Pharaoh was praised for blending masterful dungeon design with a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Featured Domains The following sections explore some of the most notorious Domains of Dread. Each of these realms is a setting unto itself and might host adventures of your design. These featured
the domain. Domain Focus. For most domains, this final section highlights specific story elements and provides domain-specific tools to aid you in creating adventures around the domain’s Darklord and the horror of their realm.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
record is a great way to keep your notes organized. Your notebook might include any of the following elements. Campaign Planner. Write down the main story arc of your campaign, and keep track of things
can help you design adventure content that provides opportunities for character development. Keep a running tally of the adventurers’ classes and levels, as well as any quests and downtime activities
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
examples of mechanics you can draw on for inspiration. As you design each class feature, ask the following questions: How does the class feature reinforce the story or theme of the class option? Is there
, paladins might not swear their oaths to ideals, but instead swear fealty to powerful sorcerers. To capture this story concept, you could build a new paladin spell list with spells meant to protect
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Encounter Pace and Tension A good story hooks you in with an interesting introduction, builds tension steadily throughout the story, then reaches a climactic conclusion. It’s not always easy to mimic
your campaign, you might design random encounter tables to reinforce the ever-present threat of that conflict, including encounters with bedraggled troops returning from battle, refugees fleeing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
offerings for years to come. On the following pages, you’ll find a number of images designed to serve as story beats in the larger Tyranny of Dragons campaign. These images were created to define impactful
. The images herein show just a few avenues explored in updating these foes to the most current edition of the game, along with notes taken from internal concept and story documents. Some present
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
offerings for years to come. On the following pages, you’ll find a number of images designed to serve as story beats in the larger Tyranny of Dragons campaign. These images were created to define impactful
. The images herein show just a few avenues explored in updating these foes to the most current edition of the game, along with notes taken from internal concept and story documents. Some present
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
offerings for years to come. On the following pages, you’ll find a number of images designed to serve as story beats in the larger Tyranny of Dragons campaign. These images were created to define impactful
. The images herein show just a few avenues explored in updating these foes to the most current edition of the game, along with notes taken from internal concept and story documents. Some present
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
across them with some regularity—further evidencing the divine favor most enjoy. Nearly every magic item was created with a purpose and often carries with it a role in some greater story, whether an epic
garment from the wool of a Nyx-fleece ram (see chapter 6). You can also use the tables in chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide to help further inspire the story you create for a magic item
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
This windowless, two-story structure has a single door tucked near a corner on the ground floor. Standing in front of the door is an eight-foot-tall, bipedal construct made of chipped stone, rusty metal
, and a dizzying array of tools. Mounted on one wall is an iron ladder that ends before a trapdoor in the ceiling.
Inscribed on the floor is a complex geometric design that pulsates with light. In the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
left to you to choose, depending on the story you want to tell. Consult the Secrets of Phenax table, which presents several options for what divine secret Varyas’s eidolon might relate. The veracity
of this secret is up to you to decide, and learning more about it might color future adventures of your own design. Secrets of Phenax d6 Result
1 As a mortal, Phenax was destined to free the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
alleviates the risk of players losing interest. For example, if the overall story of your adventure involves a quest to deliver a priceless relic to a remote monastery, each encounter along the way is an
important facet of encounter design. Sample Objectives The following objectives can be used as foundations for encounters. Although these objectives focus on a single encounter during an adventure, using
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
with the story behind the race or subrace you wish to create. Having a firm idea of a race’s story in your campaign will help you make decisions during the creation process. Ask yourself several
options are inferior). When the time comes to design the game elements of the race, such as its traits, take a look at the game’s existing races and let them inspire you. Cosmetic Alterations A simple
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
148 explored the deck through a conversation between a pompous wizard named Basil and his mercenary agent, a warrior named Jared. In this story, author Robin Jenkins offered answers for some of the
hoard, the DM could offer them a physical deck to draw from. Barr also detailed the backs of the cards for the first time. No design on the backs of the cards had ever been mentioned before, but here
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
11. King’s Walk This interconnected series of rooms tells the story of King Melair’s life in art. The duergar have looted each chamber. 11a. Training Years Pillars. Stone pillars support a series of
are on display here — a rusty iron trowel that Melair used to spread mortar, the claw of a wyvern, and an orc’s split helm. (The duergar stole the fourth item, a golden gauntlet of elven design. It can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
entrance gates are similar in design, for ease of maintenance and the training of guards. The ground at your feet has been getting smoother and flatter, a welcome respite from the uneven passages to
interrogation by speaking for the party and making a DC 15 Charisma check (Deception and Persuasion apply; Intimidation or Performance are met with scorn). Depending on how believable the party’s story is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
or to inspire those of your own design. Horror Character Personality Traits d12 Personality Trait
1 I had an encounter that I believe gives me a special affinity with a supernatural
, wicked spirits, or the Mists.
4 I’ve done unspeakable evil and will do anything to prevent others from finding out.
5 I am exceptionally credulous and believe any story or legend
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
closed.
The wardrobe contains two items: a pair of old, cracked leather boots with no value or special properties, and a ragged, stained cloak hanging on a peg. The cloak is tooled with a design of
Ned nor his merchant mentor are fools, and they have given some thought to preparing this story — it is not possible for the characters to discern Ned’s true motives. Indeed, to add verisimilitude to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
” earlier in the chapter). Roll on the Wanted Posters table to determine which poster it is, and record this information on the Story Tracker. Characters who announce their arrival hear an old man
luster or some amount of golden color in its design. Roll a d8 and refer to the Gold-spun Gifts table to determine each item. (All the items listed in the table are uncommon magic items.) If a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
convey information that the players might have missed earlier in the story. A random encounter occurs whenever you want one to. To determine what the characters find, roll a d8 and consult the Random
swamp. When Prismeer was whole, the inn could travel anywhere in Zybilna’s domain. Now that Prismeer is splintered, the inn can’t leave Hither. The inn is a squat, three-story structure with a slate
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
players and the DM. Group Design When selecting a feature, the characters must make decisions together — meaning the players must do the same. Deciding on the features of a headquarters should be a team
’ collective skill proficiencies, tool proficiencies, backgrounds, and positions within their franchise could all impact the design and construction of a headquarters. A glassblower might make beautiful
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
characters approach, read: Mr. Dory’s warehouse is a three-story stone building, roofed in slate and dotted with iron-barred windows. Its walls and roof appear to be coated with a bituminous black gruel, an
contains a tattered book with a florid spiral design. A successful DC 15 Intelligence (Religion) check identifies this design as the symbol of Tharizdun. The book is handwritten in a combination of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
everything not bolted down. Only empty counter space, unused food trays, and the equipment built into each room’s design remain. Temperature Prep Cubes. The boxes along the wall were used to chill and warm
! It appears I have fallen. Would you mind helping me up?” asks the robot.
This malfunctioning android (aerialist design) was damaged during the ship’s robotic uprising. When a character comes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
create the robe, spin any illusory design or effect into the garment. On completion, they drape the robe over the creature’s shoulders and ascend back to their lair. Each guest can gain this benefit only
folder in one of the desk drawers are five scripts for a play called A Blasphemy of Kings. The play tells the story of five siblings, each expecting to claim the throne of their late father. As the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
spend their lives mostly in darkness, stone giants have a nuanced appreciation of the effects of shadow and light. They design carvings to produce shadows in specific ways when a light source is
one story when it’s viewed in flat, dim light, but it reveals a second, much deeper tale with the addition of proper illumination. We all know of dwarves who fell so deep in love with their craft, or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
pile of bones is a +1 longsword. The hilt of the sword is fashioned like a skeletal hand, and a skull-and-bones motif is prominent in the design of the weapon. Gorkoh’s Future. Provided the characters
a DC 10 Wisdom (Perception) check to notice ripples on the cesspool before the tentacle emerges. If the characters know the room’s story or sensed the magic here, they have advantage on the check